FIVE OF THE BEST: WHAT’S ON OFFER FOR SWEDEN’S HOUSING CONSUMERS?

THE PREFABAUS TOUR OF SWEDEN IN MAY OFFERED AN INSIGHT INTO THE STRUCTURE AND OFFERINGS OF SOME OF THE COUNTRY’S LEADING SUPPLIERS. AVAILABLE IN A RANGE OF HOUSING TYPOLOGIES - ENERGY EFFICIENCY, SOLID DESIGN AND PRICE ACCESSIBILITY ARE GIVENS. ADD USER-FRIENDLY ONLINE SELECTION TOOLS, CUSTOMISATION AND A STRONG GRASP OF THE MARKET THROUGH CUSTOMER FEEDBACK AND THE RESULT IS A TIGHTLY RUN SECTOR. HERE BUILT OFFSITE SHOWCASES (IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER) FIVE OF ITS LEADING EXPONENTS.

ONE: MYRESJÖHUS

Myresjöhus is a home manufacturer with a strong in-house team comprising engineers, designers and developers. It also works with external specialists such as independent architects to create a comprehensive housing solution range.

The company offers a wide number of prefabricated ready-made models, but also has the capability to offer unique, custom-designed homes based on clients’ individual requirements.

Myresjöhus parent group OBOS Sweden AB, is Sweden’s leading housing group, which in turn is owned by Norway’s largest housing organization OBOS. The Group utilises economies of scale to effectively market, manufacture and build price accessible prefabricated timber buildings. Since its establishment in 1927, it has delivered over 150 000 houses and operates several state of the art manufacturing facilities.

The company’s range includes: one storey homes, 1.5 storey homes (offering a sloping roof space in areas where two storey homes aren’t permitted); homes with higher walls and shallow pitched roofs (culturally fitting in certain areas of Sweden); homes specially designed for plots with steep slopes; a wide range of two storey homes; and Level One homes, designed as an affordable entry level housing solution, typically targeting first home buyers.

Boklok’s vision is to provide quality, eco-friendly and sustainable homes at an affordable price point.

TWO: BOKLOK

Developed by building giant Skanska and flatpack/interiors + furnishing specialist IKEA, Boklok develops and builds sustainable housing characterised by good design, functionality and quality at a low price.

It is understood that Ingvar Kamprad and Melker Schörling, the founding fathers of IKEA and Skanska respectively first met at a housing fair in 1996, thereafter pursuing Melker’s vision that along with creating ethical housing, there was a market share to claim by meeting the needs of ordinary people with the best possible housing for as little money as possible.

Boklok, which has more than 300 employees in Sweden, Norway and Finland, now produces around 1,000 homes per year and has completed more than 8,000 homes to date. By taking responsibility for the entire value chain, from product development, project development and production in the factory to the building, sales and customer relations for occupancy, Boklok has streamlined its costs and passed savings onto home owners.

Its success is largely dependent on staying close to the market through customer feedback. For example in a customer survey solid natural materials were noted as a priority, and these were thereafter integrated into the company’s output.

Eksjöhus primarily offers timber houses, built in the company’s own factory using lumber from its own sawmill.Homes are offered in four key categories:Timber buildings comprising a range of models, from traditional Swedish wooden houses to contemporary designed homes.Stone houses are also available, offered with brick or stucco facade treatments.The New England House range is inspired by traditional American homes.The Bauhaus-style model offers directional design and functionalismEksjöhus’ in-house architects work with clients to ensure their individual requirements are met wherever possible and the company has ranked its ranges in terms of the degree of adaptability in this regard. The Flex range offers more options and Flex + offers the greatest opportunity to influence design. Houses not branded ‘Flex’ offer less variation and result in a lower price positioning. Flex + allows clients to change the layout or add extra doors and windows. Designs range from New England style houses to minimalist contemporary villas.

The Kaptensgården model from Eksjöhus. Roughly translating to ‘The Captain’s Farm’ this model is designed as an “exclusive house with a rustic character” featuring a spacious interior with classic detailing.

FOUR: VÄSTKUSTVILLAN

Offering both cottages and villas, ‘stugan’ and ‘villan’, the company offers the Västkuststugan and Västkustvillan lines. One of the oldest house manufacturers in Sweden, it’s well known for holiday homes designed to be comfortably occupied year-round.

There is a wide range of timber prefabricated homes on offer including large and smaller layouts, with most options able to be customised according to clients’ individual taste and requirements. A blend of standardisation and high levels of quality enables a strong value proposition.

The company operates stringent quality control of materials and supplies and only works with well-known suppliers. In addition, with a commitment to “safeguard both the environment and our customers’ wallets” the company’s climate smart solutions result in both energy and cost savings. Each project includes an energy and cost estimates calculated from each villa’s design and individual circumstances.

Västkustvillan - Villa Bastad Type A home.

FIVE: DEROME

The Derome Group sells a number of different house and prefab kit brands, with a range of different features and functions. The company caters to private customers, but also produces customised house solutions for partner developers.

Derome’s housing offer includes a number of lines:-

A-hus prefabricated catalogue houses are manufactured at Derome’s production facility in Anneberg, Sweden, and comprise a wide range of ready-to-occupy detached houses and timber housing kits. Well-designed layouts and features that minimise energy costs for the occupants are a key characteristic of these homes. Sister range, A-hus Pro offers construction kits for houses and multi-storey buildings.

Meanwhile Derome Plushus comprises modular timber residential solutions and custom-built apartment buildings and group homes. The company also offers a turnkey housing solution known as Derome Mark & Bostad; it develops residential land and offers freeholds and owner occupied cooperatives.

Targeting homeowners in the market for a more individuated home, Derome’s Varbergshus line specialises in bespoke timber houses. Derome’s in-house designers create houses according to clients’ functional and aesthetic brief, ensuring no two houses are alike.■